Belle Isle arguments heard ahead of final vote on state lease

Detroit residents Anthony Henderson, left, and Jocelyn Harris, right, who spoke for and against the proposal to make Belle Isle a state park in a public hearing Monday.(Screengrabs from public recording)

DETROIT, MI -- Residents engaged in one more back-and-forth on leasing Belle Isle to the state Department of Natural Resources in a public hearing before City Council on Monday.

The council is scheduled to vote on the matter Tuesday.(Update: The vote was delayed by the Neighborhood and Community Services Committee on Monday, but it could be returned to the agenda by the full council Tuesday.)

Under the plan, the state would issue bonds to fund improvements and maintenance at the park, to be repaid with
revenues from $11 annual entry fees. City officials say it would save Detroit about $6 million a year.

A group of residents vehemently opposed to the plan have spoken out against it at City Council meetings for months.

"It will not benefit our community," said Detroit business owner Jocelyn
Harris, who argued that state control would jeopardize work for local contractors on the island.

It's an argument made by many against the lease, along with opposition to the proposed entrance fee and general apprehension over giving up control of another Detroit entity.

The opposition has been vocal and at times angry, with one man removed from Monday's hearing when he wouldn't stop yelling at council members perceived to be in favor of the move.

But there were more voices in favor of the deal than usual at Monday's hearing.

"I think that we're letting our pride get in the way instead of maybe thinking of this as help," said Anthony Henderson, who estimated that his family spends time on the island 250 days a year.

"I don't just think of it as a jewel, I use it preactically, all the time. We just don't have the money and it needs to be cleaned."